What can an IBCLC do for you?

Are you wondering what an IBCLC can do for you? The most common question I’ve been getting lately is ‘Can you tell me if my baby has a tongue tie?’ The short answer is yes, we can. However, the official diagnosis comes from a doctor and if you see me first, that doctor will typically be a pediatric dentist. It’s important to see an IBCLC if you think your baby has a tongue or lip tie, before going to a pediatric dentist or ENT. The reason being, an IBCLC can offer immediate help with feeding your baby before a tongue tie release is performed and assist with exercises and feeding techniques after the procedure. We also tend to know the providers with the most successful outcomes in your area and work closely with them (and you) in many cases. We teach you tongue/lip exercises after the release and support you through the healing process.

So what else do IBCLC’s do? Along with assessing both baby and mother separately and together during a feeding, we can help with everything related to lactation. Whether you’re feeding baby at the breast or pump/feeding with devices, we offer personalized care plans and support for whatever you and baby may need. Cup/bottles/syringes, pumps of all types, hand expression, we’ve got you! NICU baby or preemie? We can help! First baby and you’re clueless? Or 5th baby who is very different from the rest. No idea what you’re doing or why your baby acts the way they do? Baby is not gaining weight, slowly gaining or falling off their curve? Baby is gassy, colicky or spitting up a lot? IBCLC’s can help! Nipples are sore, inverted or mastitis keeps coming back? I’ve seen it ALL and I can help.

Please reach out to us for whatever your breastfeeding needs may be. IBCLC’s are highly educated, trained and skilled in all things Lactation. Don’t go through it alone, we are worth our weight in gold as a client just told me this week. ❤️

Gassy Infants

Many infants experience uncomfortable gas and discomfort. I see this issue a lot in my practice! Here are some common reasons your infant may have uncomfortable episodes of gas.

-Immature Digestive System. This is the most common culprit for infant gas and it’s totally normal! An infants GI tract is still figuring out how to breakdown and process milk efficiently. Breastfed babies are significantly less gassy than formula fed babies because breastmilk is much easier for their bodies to recognize and digest. However, breastfed babies can still be very gassy until their digestive system matures. Excessive gas in infants due to an immature digestive system usually improves around 3-6 months of age.

-Latch. When a baby has a poor latch, excess air can be swallowed causing gas and discomfort. Make sure your baby has a wide and deep latch every nursing session. The latch should feel painless to mom and have a tug/pull sensation as opposed to a pinch/bite. The best thing to do is get your baby’s latch assessed by an LC. It can make all the difference in your baby’s gassy episodes as well as increase milk transfer and promote pain free nursing.

-Oral ties. Oral ties can cause many problems with infant feeding. Babies with oral ties have trouble maintaining a latch and/or a seal at the breast. This can cause them to swallow air continuously causing gas and discomfort.

-Fast let down. Some moms experience a fast let down when baby is at the breast. This rush of milk may be hard for baby to manage and leave you with one gassy baby.

-Too Much Foremilk/Oversupply. This can also go along with the fast let down since many moms with a fast let down also have an oversupply of milk. If mom has a large milk storage capacity and an oversupply of milk, baby may only be drinking the foremilk and not getting to the hindmilk. The hindmilk in the breast is the higher calorie, fatty, creamier milk that remains in a breast that’s almost ‘empty’. Too much foremilk, not enough hindmilk can cause gassiness in babies. But don’t worry, ALL milk is beneficial and nutrient dense even though an imbalance of foremilk/hindmilk can often cause gas.

-Allergen in the Milk. Some babies have sensitivities to the foods in moms diet and this can cause gas and discomfort for baby. This doesn’t happen nearly as much as moms may think, but it does happen! Work with an LC to do a food elimination study if you think it is a good sensitivity that might be causing your baby’s gas.

I know I say this over and over but it is so important to get a latch and oral assessment done with an LC. If your breastfeeding baby experiences lots of gassy episodes, an assessment can make all the difference. It’s also important to add in a high quality probiotic for both mom and baby. There may be other supplements that may help with gas as well, based on mom/baby history and the issues they’re experiencing.

Medications and Breastfeeding

Did you know that many medications are safe to take while breastfeeding? If you were prescribed a medication and you’re not sure if it’s breastfeeding compatible, here’s what you can do. First, you can call the Infant Risk Center with your prescription information handy. You can reach the Infant Risk hotline by calling 806-352-2519. Alternatively, you can go to the infant risk website: https://www.infantrisk.com/

You can also go to the following website and type in your prescription drug name. This website can also give you some reliable insight on the safety of taking the medication while breastfeeding. http://www.e-lactancia.org/

Even if the medication you are taking is compatible with breastfeeding, it’s always a good practice to nurse or pump first, right before your dose. This can help limit your baby’s exposure to the drug. Depending on the half life of the drug, some/most or all of the medication can be out of your milk before your next feeding. There’s usually no need to pump and dump since medications don’t stay in your milk. They metabolize out of your breastmilk at the same rate it is metabolized out of the blood.

If the medication you’re prescribed is not compatible with breastfeeding, ask your doctor to prescribe an alternative medication that is safe. Most of the time, it’s an easy switch to accomplish the same therapeutic outcome. As always, advocate for yourself. If your doctor is unsure if a medication is safe while breastfeeding, call infant risk or use the lactancia website above to confirm.

As an LC, I use the book Hale’s Medications and Mothers Milk to look up meds for my clients. It’s a very reputable book in the field of lactation and very reliable. It’s a little pricey so that’s why I typically recommend using the free resources I listed above. But if you’re a mom who takes medications or supplements regularly, it’s a great book to have or app to download!

Lastly, talk to your doctor and see if medication is necessary at all. Many times illnesses heal with time, rest and a healthy diet without the need for medication. Many meds are safe while breastfeeding but to remove all risk to your baby, it may be worth it to skip them all together, at least while you’re still breastfeeding.

Sweet Sleep

A common question I get in my practice is ‘when will my breastfeeding baby start sleeping through the night?’ I really wish I could predict the future and start answering this question when it’s asked. But the truth is, I don’t know! In fact, no one knows when your baby will start to sleep through the night. But here’s what I DO know. You’re not doing anything wrong! Sleeping through the night (5+hour stretches) is a developmental milestone that every baby meets at different times in their lives. It is normal and expected for babies to wake several times at night. It helps prevent SIDS, helps with baby’s weight gain, mental/emotional health and strengthens the connection between parent and baby. It’s also important to know that there is no evidence to suggest that formula fed babies sleep longer stretches than breastfed babies, contrary to what you may have heard. Moms prolactin levels (milk making hormones) are highest at night and it just so happens that babies tend to be more wakeful at night, especially in the first few weeks after birth. Aren’t babies smart creatures!?

As a mom myself I’ll share my own experience. I have 2 girls, both of them were exclusively breastfed. My first baby slept 5-6 hour stretches of sleep from the day I brought her home from the hospital. When she was 2 months old she was sleeping 8 hours straight. 🙌🏻 Then my second baby was born. She never slept more than a 3 hour stretch of sleep until she was 2 years old (yes, TWO YEARS old). In fact, she’s now 4 years old and still wakes up and comes into our room and night while my oldest daughter snoozes away like a hibernating bear.

Ultimately, it is normal for your baby to wake several times a night. And if you’re waking up with them to nurse you are meeting so many of their needs. You are not creating bad habits. Catch a nap whenever you can, enjoy a cup of coffee and I promise you’ll all be sleeping through the night soon enough.

My Top 10 Favorite products for Breastfeeding Mamas

-My Breastfriend breastfeeding pillow-It’s the best nursing pillow! Firm enough so baby doesn’t sink down into it and it has a buckle to keep baby in place.

-The Haakka- A great tool to have for milk collection on the opposite breast you’re feeding on. Also a great hand pump for on the go or to use when you’re engorged.

-Lansinoh Momma bottle – The best bottle for a smooth transition from breast to bottle. The nipple is shaped perfectly so baby can latch onto it like they would on the breast.

-The Kindest Cup – A great alternative to the Haakka and it allows you to feed baby the collected milk right from the cup.

-The Spectra breast pump- The highest quality non-medical grade double pump on the market.

-Pumpin’ pals flanges-The comfort of these pump flanges are the BEST. Do yourself a favor and get a pair if you pump regularly!

-LadyBug milk collectors- Great for moms who leak milk. Wear them around the house or put one on the opposite breast you’re feeding on. Save the milk collected (change/clean every hour).

-Syringes-Great to have on hand for the colostrum phase. Collect colostrum in them prenatally and freeze or just use after birth to supplement baby with a few ml’s from hand expression.

-Silverette nursing cups- Provides great relief for damaged or painful nipples. Allows cracked nipples to heal and helps prevent infection.

– Coconut Oil- A great every day product to have on hand for dry or cracked nipples. Also good for cradle cap and flaky skin on baby.

Breastmilk Immunoglobulins

As you probably already know, breastmilk is the healthiest food you can provide for your newborn. The nutrient content is one of the many reasons that breastmilk is the perfect food. But did you know your breastmilk also contains live beneficial bacteria, enzymes and immunoglobulins? In this blog, we’ll focus on immunoglobulins.

Immunoglobulins are antibodies found in breastmilk. Breastmilk (unlike formula) is a live substance full of specific cells. The lactating mother transfers her immunities to her baby through breast milk. Remember that nasty virus you had back in ‘02? That cold you fought last month? You might not but your body does and by breastfeeding, you transfer the ‘code’ to fight that virus to your baby. How cool is that!?

IgA is one of the most important immunoglobulins found in breastmilk. IgA coats your baby’s gut protecting it from viruses, bacteria and diseases, making it much more difficult for your baby to experience minor and major illnesses and allergies. IgA can not be made in a factory or a kitchen. It is a live antibody made by the body and it is unable to survive the process it takes to make infant formula. You won’t find true live IgA on the shelf although some great formula marketing tactics might get you to believe otherwise.

By breastfeeding, you’re helping to protect your baby from illness, disease and a compromised immune system. The viruses you already fought in your own body will be recognized and destroyed by your baby’s body if they ever come into contact with those specific pathogens. Isn’t breast milk fascinating?

Planning Date Night with an Exclusively Nursing Baby

Do you need a date day or night away from baby but #1 you aren’t a fan of pumping #2 your baby refuses to take a bottle or #3 you have no milk stored for a bottle? You can still go out on that much needed date! Here’s how to do it.

First, I always have my clients write down nursing sessions, naps and awake times for 1 week before you plan your date. Which feedings were better than others? Which feedings left you feeling like baby sufficiently drained the breasts? What time is baby napping and for how long? After a week or 2, you have probably noticed your newborn has patterns of nursing, sleeping and awake times. Plan your date day/night out after baby’s usual block of an effective nursing session followed by a long stretch of sleep. Does baby cluster feed at night then take a longer stretch of sleep? There’s your window! Or does baby have a good nursing session in the morning then take a long mid-morning nap? There’s your window! Before you go out, nurse baby as long as she wants until she finishes both breasts or falls asleep. Now your breasts are emptied and you likely have a nice 3-ish hour window to slip away until your babe might need another feeding.

Yes, this plan requires some flexibility from caretakers, your partner and you. And you might want to stay close to home the first few times you go out, just in case baby wakes and is hungry. But it can be done and as baby gets older, it becomes easier and baby becomes more predictable.

Still a little uneasy about leaving baby but really need some time away? Let me help! I can review your baby’s daily patterns, learn more about your situation and customize a plan for your weekly date. We can also come up with soothing techniques your caregiver can try to keep baby content until you come home. You deserve this time away!

How do I know When to Switch Breasts?

Years ago the recommendation was to ‘watch the clock’ and switch breasts after 15 minutes of nursing. That is no longer the recommendation and here’s why. Every mom has a different milk storage capacity AND every baby empties the breast at a different rate. One baby may empty her mamas breast in 5 minutes while another baby may need 20 minutes. So how do we know when a breast is empty and it’s time to switch sides?

1. Get in the habit of feeling your breasts before and after a feeding. A full breast will feel harder and an empty breast will feel softer.

2. Listen for swallowing. If baby slows down at the breast and you’re not hearing swallows anymore, give yourself a few breast compressions to fully empty the breast. When baby stops swallowing after breast compressions or comes off the breast after nursing for a while, it’s probably time to switch.

3. When baby comes off the breast, give it a squeeze. If the milk sprays, comes out easily and looks clear-ish/watery, the breast still has milk to offer. Put baby back on this breast to finish. If the milk is just a droplet or two (not spraying) and it looks creamy white, the breast is likely on the emptier side. You can switch breasts at this time.

Keep in mind some babies will only need 1 breast per feeding to be satisfied. It’s better to completely empty one breast than to nurse on both breasts. An emptier breast offers fattier, creamier milk (hind milk) that is helpful for weight gain and reducing gas.

Need some relief on the opposite breast? Hand express until you’re comfortable and offer that breast at baby’s next feeding.

Which Breast Pump should you Choose?

With so many breast pumps on the market, it’s difficult to choose which one to buy. Medical grade pumps, standard double electric pumps and hands-free pumps are the most commonly used. Let’s discuss the different kinds of breast pumps and which ones I recommend, based on different situations.

If you have a baby who was premature and/or a NICU baby and you’re separated for long periods of time, a medical grade pump is probably your best choice. The medical grade pump such as the Medela Symphony is the Ferrari of breast pumps and can help get your milk supply established or help to increase it. The stimulation you get from this type of pump is superior to all the pumps on the market. That’s why it’s a very expensive pump and deemed ‘medical grade’. If you need a medical grade pump, often times insurance will cover the cost to rent it with a prescription from your doctor. Or, you can rent it yourself from a medical supply company.

Standard double electric pumps such as the Spectra, Medela, Motiff, Lansinoh, etc. are the most popular pumps among moms however, they are not all created equal. Most of these pumps are covered by insurance. Be aware, some brands such as the Medela have ‘insurance versions’ of the pump which are much less efficient and sturdy than if you were to buy the same pump in the store. It’s important to know that some double electric pumps just don’t have the ability to stimulate a letdown as well as others. I always recommend the Spectra. I’ve used the Spectra myself (after trying other brands) and I’ve had countless clients who have also used it. The Spectra is far better than any other standard double electric pump on the market right now. It’s quiet, gentle, it has multiple settings, and it tends to be the best at mimicking how a baby suckles and removes milk. I’m not sponsored by Spectra, I’m just sharing my personal and professional opinion. If your insurance covers a Spectra, get this brand. The Spectra insurance version is the same as store bought. The Medela is a very popular pump. I’m not quick to recommend the Medela because it’s loud, it can be rough on the nipples, the insurance version is not as efficient as the store bought one and the motor tends to burn out quicker than others. Don’t get me wrong, I love Medela products and use them often but I’m not a huge fan of their breast pump. I do however, know many moms who use the Medela with no issues and love it.

The other types of pumps on the market that are quickly gaining popularity are the hands free pumps such as the Freemie or the Willow. I love that these pumps can be worn relatively discreetly and they allow a mom to be completely hands free and mobile. I recommend these pumps for second time mamas who only occasionally pump or need to stimulate their breasts a little more after nursing their baby. There’s nothing better than being able to pump milk while chasing around a toddler. However, for some moms, the hands free pumps are not good at increasing or even maintaining milk supply. They don’t have the ‘baby power’ to replace nursing sessions on a regular basis. So if you’re a mom with a history of low milk supply, if you’re going back to work full time or you need to exclusively pump, the hands free pumps are not ideal. Another downside to the hands free pumps are the cost! They are very expensive and it’s not recommended to buy them used because of possible contamination. Not to mention all of the parts and assembling required to use the hands free pump.

If you plan to pump whether it’s occasional or more regularly, ask an LC to help you choose which pump would be best for you and your situation. If we know more about your history and your pumping plans, we can help you choose the best breast pump for you.

A Good Latch

A good latch is everything! Here are a few great things I notice about the way this baby is nursing. Take a look at how wide this baby’s mouth is open. Baby should open wide while latching, similar to the gape of a yawn. This will ensure the baby gets enough of the breast tissue in her mouth, far back to the soft palate where it needs to be. This enables optimal milk transfer. Notice how close the nose and chin are to the breast. Pull your baby in close to you while feeding. This ‘hug’ will help baby maintain that deep latch while nursing. The baby’s body in this pic is in alignment, ear/shoulder/hip, all aligned while facing tummy to tummy with mom. This is important for baby’s comfort and ease of swallowing at the breast. The baby has her hand on mom’s breast. This allows her to be snuggled in close, tummy to tummy without hands or arms in the way. Sometimes you will notice your baby will massage your breast with their hand. This is how they try to initiate your milk to letdown. Be sure to practice a good latch each nursing session to optimize milk transfer and keep your nipples safe from soreness or damage. Can’t get a good latch? Make an appointment with an LC sooner than later. You will be happy you did.